High hopes of Myanmar voters
- 12 years ago
PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi got a warm welcome from voters as she visited a polling station during Myanmar's landmark by-elections on Sunday.
The pro-democracy campaigner is standing for one of the 45 available parliamentary seats.
This is only Myanmar's third election in half a century and the flow of voters at polling stations appeared steady.
Many have high hopes of change for the better.
SOUNDBITE: SHI LAR TIN, VOTER, (Burmese):
"This election is good because out president wants change. If Aung San Suu Kyi wins maybe our country will get better."
There's a lot riding on this election.
The United States and European Union have hinted that economic sanctions imposed in response to human rights abuses could be lifted.
But that will only happen if the ballot is free and fair.
Brunei's ambassador is one of the observers.
SOUNDBITE: PAHIM DATO RAHMANI BASIR, AMBASSADOR OF BRUNEI, SAYING (English):
"I think it's mostly been a good one. The conduct of the voting since it's been open at at six o'clock has been very peaceful and orderly."
It's not yet clear when the results will be announced.
Paul Chapman, Reuters
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi got a warm welcome from voters as she visited a polling station during Myanmar's landmark by-elections on Sunday.
The pro-democracy campaigner is standing for one of the 45 available parliamentary seats.
This is only Myanmar's third election in half a century and the flow of voters at polling stations appeared steady.
Many have high hopes of change for the better.
SOUNDBITE: SHI LAR TIN, VOTER, (Burmese):
"This election is good because out president wants change. If Aung San Suu Kyi wins maybe our country will get better."
There's a lot riding on this election.
The United States and European Union have hinted that economic sanctions imposed in response to human rights abuses could be lifted.
But that will only happen if the ballot is free and fair.
Brunei's ambassador is one of the observers.
SOUNDBITE: PAHIM DATO RAHMANI BASIR, AMBASSADOR OF BRUNEI, SAYING (English):
"I think it's mostly been a good one. The conduct of the voting since it's been open at at six o'clock has been very peaceful and orderly."
It's not yet clear when the results will be announced.
Paul Chapman, Reuters